Why Todd Akin Still Matters

Todd Akin

It has been almost two years since I heard the infamous Todd Akin remark about “legitimate rape” and abortions and I am still as angry as I was then. Recently, Todd Akin rereleased a statement in his new book apologizing for the remark but stood by his claim that there is medical proof about how stress can end a pregnancy.

Well, Todd Akin, I don’t accept your apology, but thank you ever so much for telling me once again how you know more about my body than I do based on a Google search. But beyond his remarks being offensive, and the fact that he clearly didn’t listen to or learn from the overwhelming response to his ignorance, it seems that Akin’s comments indicate that the Republican strategy …

Saturday Vids: My AAUW Voting Pep Talk

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) recently asked me to contribute to their “Our Voice. Our Vote” campaign. Here are my thoughts on why I’ll be voting in November (and why you should be, too!)!

The Importance of Voting

They fought for your right to vote so take it seriously!

I am now officially a member of the National Organization for Women (NOW)! NOW is the largest feminist organization in the country, and has been a huge presence in women’s rights advocacy ever since its creation by Betty Friedan in 1966.

While I had a relationship with NOW before I joined, I felt like I really belonged when I recently attended the National Organization for Women (NOW) webinar titled “AAUW Voter Outreach Campaign Strategy Session.” The webinar was co-run by NOW and AAUW (the American Association of University Women), and hosted by NOW President Terry O’Neill and AAUW State Grassroots Advocacy Manager Kimberly Fountain. It was all about how to get women at the polls in the …

Is Suffrage for Saudi Women Justice, or Just Words?

In a society where women can’t leave the house without their faces covered and aren’t allowed to drive, how much does the right to vote really mean?

Global pressures aided in getting women the right to vote and run for office in Saudi Arabia last week. Unfortunately, “the right to vote” is used very loosely when it comes to Saudi Arabian politics. With an intact monarchy, a tight set of laws based on religious texts, and a society which allows for few freedoms for women, Saudi Arabian King Abdullah’s promise that women will be able to further participate in politics rings a little bit empty to me.

First of all, what does it mean for women to “get the right to vote” or “run for office” in a country …

“Hello, Ms. President.” (Is That So Hard To Believe?)

A future Ms. President?

The Yahoo! Homepage is literally one of the first things I see when I get up in the morning, and whenever I see a featured article about a woman who’s made an impact for reasons other than parading around on some reality show with a puke-orange tan (ooh, am I bitter?), I feel a jolt of excitement and curiosity. Click!

Last week, a Yahoo! Homepage featured article was about Geraldine Ferraro, “who in 1984 became the first woman vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket [in the United States].” She passed away two Saturdays ago.

I’ll be the first to admit that I abhor politics.

I know, I know, as a liberated woman I should want to educate myself about this stuff, but . …